Handymap: A selection interface for cluttered VR environments using a tracked hand-held touch device

We present Handymap, a novel selection interface for virtual environments with dense datasets. The approach was motivated by shortcomings of standard ray-casting methods in highly cluttered views such as in our visualization application for coalbed methane well logs. Handymap uses a secondary 2D overview of a scene that allows selection of a target when it is occluded in the main view, and that reduces required pointing precision. Reduced sensitivity to pointing precision is especially useful for consumer-level VR systems due to their modest tracking precision and display sizes. The overview is presented on a tracked touch device (iPod Touch) that is also usable as a general VR wand. Objects are selected by a tap or touch-move-release action on the touch surface. Optionally, redundant visual feedback and highlighting on the main display can allow a user to keep focus on the main display and may be useful with standard wand interfaces. Initial user feedback suggests Handymap can be a useful selection interface for cluttered environments but may require some learning.